Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	church_n	earth_n	power_n	8,852	5	5.0914	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62519	A defence of humane learning in the ministry, or, A treatise proving that it is necessary a minister (or preacher) should be skill'd in humane learning by H. Th., St. Ch. Ch.	Thurman, Henry, d. 1670.	1660 (1660)	Wing T1139; ESTC R22554	31,340	79

have not learned these things how are they called Christians And how can they be called rude and ignorant which have learned and beleived them For as Erasmus saies again nulla est sancta rusticitas sicut nulla est rusticana sanctitas ubicurque enim est vera sanctitas ibi est magna Philosophia minimeque vulgaris eruditio But yet amongst these learned there is a difference For they excell and exceed the rest in learning unto whom it is given by a speciall prerogative from the Holy ●host to instruct others to righteousness unto whom the Lord hath given a pure and aclean heart a principall and invincible spirit the wisdome of Serpents joyned with the innocency of doves a tongue like the pen of a ready writer a learned tongue to know how to minister a word in season to those that are weary lips in which not only the Flexanimis Pytho of the Heathen hath its residence but on which are poured heavenly graces by the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost For its fit and convenient that that they excel others in degree and calling should excel in virtue and gifts There are already started by the Casuists five Thousand cases of Conscience and dayly more wise and therfore Ministers that are to answer the doubts of a whole kingdome whose office it is to determine in divine scruples should be men of extraordinary endowments For their office is of larger extent then to make Sermons and speak well enough to the pleasing of vulgar and undiscerning Auditors Neither is it enough that they be good amongst the bad learned amongst the ignorant but they must be best amongst the good and of greatest knowledge among the learned Ye are the light of the world says our Saviour Mat. 5.14 rayes as 't were issuing frō the fountaine of eternall light Christ therefore we see bespeakes his ministers to be as torches or eminent luminaries like the Sun in the firmament for all the world to be enlightned by it Their lustre should be great as at noon day able to dispell all the mists of error for a knowledge in them like the twilight is not sufficient and is next unto darkness Learning quà learning i.e. an ability to teach others challenges a natural preheminence and superiority For all dominion is naturally founded in the understanding and we submit that imperious faculty to none but God and our Teachers Hence Paul is said to have sate at his Tutors feet which implyes duty and subordination Now a presidency or authority in the ministry is intimated by that power our Saviour gave his Apostles It is said Mat. 28.19 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth goe yee therefore and teach So that now the Apostles had a power given them●ore the understandings of the people Now how can unlearned persons regulate mens ununderstandings And so how can they be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presidents and governours of the Church if they know no more then those they pretend to instruct Wisemen we know are only fit to governe and learning maintaines that relation whilst it keepes of contempts stops the mouthes of all gainsayers searches out truth and states what it is and must necessarily force all that are in their senses to honour it I am sure amongst wiser persons it has always been esteemed a title of nobility and great eminency Ego enim quid aliud munificentiae adhibere potui ut studia ut sic dixerim in umbra educata è quibus Claritudo venit said Seneca to Nero. No doubt but learning enableth men to procure more favour and bring more reputation to religion by the greatnesse of their parts Great then is the boldness of those illiterate persons that venture upon this calling with more confidence by reason of their greater ignorance and being not able to discharge the duty of a minister by reason of their want of learning they become workmen who need to be ashamed not rightly dividing the word of Truth 3. Arg. Because learning is especially necessary for the understanding of the Scriptures This I lay downe for a ground work that there is unum necessarium with Mary to set at the feet of Jesus and his Apostles and hear and read the Scriptures And that we must not with the Egyptian Dog bihere fugere tast of Nilus and begone be satisfied with a draught But as t is said of wisdome we must so eat of them that we may be the more hungry after them And as it is said of the woundrous works of God That when a man hath considered them and done his best he must begin againe and when he thinks to come to an end he must goe again to his first labour for the consideration is infinite So when we have read over the Scriptures and considered them and done our best we must begin again And when we think we have made an end goe again to our first labour for the knowledge and profit of them is infinite Having I say set this down for a rule and ground that the Scriptures are all-sufficient and only sufficient for the worke of our Salvation and that they are the ground of all Truth It is not absurd says Clement the Pope in the Decrees dist 37. Si aliquid etiam ex eruditione communi ac liberalibus studiis quae forte etiam in pueritia attigimus ad assertionem veri dogmatis conferimus And so I say a third Reason why a minister should be skild in humane learning may be the great necessity and help it is of for the understanding the holy Scriptures And here I must descend to particulars and speak 1. Of the study of the Tongues Hebrew and Greek in the which the holy Scripture is wrot Now these are necessary for five Reasons 1. Since there is no translation that is not in many places faulty and those that are the most learned disagree much in interpreting the meaning of those places how shall that minister that is ignorant of the Originall Tongues be able to consult the Context to satisfye and informe his own judgment and others that will cavill with him He must presently be at a stand and confesse his ignorance He that it forced to read a translation can no more clearly understand the Authors Original then those that look through a thick black-bag can see the graces of a picture And remember waters the further they run from the fountain the lesse clear they are and more impure 2. Every tongue has its Emphasis and particular graces that can never be genuinely exprest in another language The exactest Translator can never lively expresse that Majesty and sublimity of stile the Holy Ghost writes in Never did any interpreter reach the Authors mind in every thing and the best has erred in somethings So that I must commend Themisto●les that being in banishment and having leave to speak to the King of Persia chose rather to spend a twelvemonths time first to learn the